State Senator Shot Dead at His Farm

State Sen. Tommy Burks, who fought for the rights of crime victims and never missed a day of work during 28 years in the Legislature, was shot to death on his hog farm in Monterey, Tenn. Police had not determined a motive, but Chief Bruce Breedlove said “it absolutely was not a suicide.” Burks, 58, was shot once in the head at nearly point-blank range. A farm worker found the body in the front seat of Burks’ truck.